State asks for discipline against trooper accused of sexual abuse
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Department of Public Safety is asking a state group to take action against a trooper's peace officer's license following sexual abuse claims.
A lawyer with the state requested a hearing with the Administrative Hearing Commission on June 8 for Jeffery Durbin's license. Durbin faces charges of sexual abuse and third-degree kidnapping for a March incident at a Columbia hotel.
The complaint from assistant attorney general Richard Groeneman lays out many of the same allegations the Columbia Police Department made in its case against Durbin. The complaint said that Durbin allegedly forced himself onto a woman on March 23 at the Hampton Inn near Stadium Blvd. Patrol members were in Columbia for training, and Durbin and the alleged victim were in his room to go over training materials. According to the complaint, the woman tried to pull away from Durbin when he tried to kiss her several times. Groeneman said Durbin at one point put his hand down the woman's pants while she tried saying no.
Columbia police said Durbin allegedly apologized to the woman for the incident the next day.
The commission can ultimately decide if the DPS director has a case to discipline the law enforcement officer. That could include a suspension of the person's license or revocation. Durbin will have 30 days to respond to the petition.
A grand jury in Boone County indicted Durbin on May 30 with first-degree sexual abuse and third-degree kidnapping. A hearing is scheduled for June 26 with Judge Jeff Harris. A highway patrol spokesman told ABC 17 News in April that Durbin was on special leave without pay.
